But Friday, the members of the New Bedford band A Wilhelm Scream will perform on more familiar ground in their home hemisphere, at a highly anticipated show in Boston at the Brighton Music Hall.

It's an exciting time for A Wilhelm Scream, says singer Nuno Pereira, and the hearty reaction they received from the crowds in Argentina, Brazil and Chile during their brief South American tour still has the quintet (which also features guitarist/vocalist Trevor Reilly, guitarist Mike Supina, bassist Brian G. Robinson, and drummer Nicholas Angelini) plenty energized.

"Most of the time, I'm not sure who's having more fun, us or (the audience)," says Pereira, who's been with the band since 1996, in a recent e-mail interview with The Standard-Times conducted during the band's tour. "The people of South America are very special in that way. The vibe we pick up on when we're onstage translates into some of the most high-energy shows we've ever played, and I can't praise our fans enough for that exchange every night."

In South America, the band performed as part of the lineup for the WROS Fest, sharing the stage with Rise Against, Pennywise, Strike Anywhere, Anti-Flag, Streetlight Manifesto, Glassjaw and Alkaline Trio.

"There are moments where we get to be tourists and see some incredible sights and experience some local eats, architecture and cultures," says Pereira of the tour. "But the highlights are always the performances. Being able to do what you love and having anywhere from 400 to 5,000 punk rock fans cheering you on as you do it is indescribable."

Though he describes himself as "exhausted and elated" (he's just days away from becoming a father for the first time), Pereira says Boston audiences can expect a powerful show from the band, one in which they'll play their 2005 CD Ruiner in its entirety.

"I would wager on a night of beer, fun, and possibly a few unexpected gaffes," he says.

The roots of what would eventually become A Wilhelm Scream stretch back to the early '90s, when members of the New Bedford bands Adams's Crack and Koen joined forces to form Smackin' Isaiah. After several independent releases and lineup changes that shifted the band's sound from Nirvana-influenced grunge to skate punk and ska to melodic hardcore, the band renamed itself A Wilhelm Scream in 2002. A new album is scheduled to be released in spring 2013 on No Idea Records.

"We're very excited about (the new album) and hope that all our new fans will go out and pick up a copy so we can continue doing this punk rock thing 'til we're old and gray, or bald, in my case," says Pereira.

There aren't a lot of successful indie bands that make it out of New Bedford, so Pereira is rightfully proud of what A Wilhelm Scream has accomplished in its lengthy career.

"We are a group of guys who like a challenge," he says. "We also made some sacrifices that some would not. That's why we're still around and making new fans to this day. When I think about it, our struggles made us stronger and adaptable. That's what differentiates us from a lot of other bands — that and having the best two guitarists in punk rock today."

A Wilhelm Scream is performing with Smartbomb, The Stereo State and Raindance at 8 p.m. Friday at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave., Boston. For information on tickets, call the venue at (617) 779-0140; for information on A Wilhelm Scream's music, visit their page on Facebook.